Police officials said there were a large number of women drivers who violated traffic rules in the city, but said the traffic police preferred to be lenient while dealing with them.

“We believe in upholding the cultural values. There should be decent and polite behaviour towards women, including those driving vehicles. So we challan lesser number of women drivers,” acting Traffic Police Superintendent of Police (SP-traffic) Jai Prakash said.

Interestingly, out of 35 thousand people fined for various traffic-related offences in 2010, only two women drivers were challaned since January, police officials said.

“Even those challaned during the past two-and-a-half years were for parking vehicles in no-parking areas,” Prakash said.

On the other hand, women vehicle owners have a different view. “Women obey safety rules and regulations and don’t indulge in over-speeding and regularly wear helmets unlike the men.

Therefore, the number of women violators is less,” said Pooja Goel, a Kavi Nagar resident.

The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) admitted that fewer women were challaned as women drivers were found to be very sensitive when caught violating traffic rules.

“They either resort to crying or else refuse to pay up the fines.

We even had instances when police officials paid fines out of their own pocket after the women were challaned,” SSP said.

The SSP said that teh Ghaziabad Traffic Police do not have any women Sub-Inspectors or constables and male policemen found it uneasy to handle the women violators.